QUOTING CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF LT GEN AB DAMBAZAU ON ARMY'S POSITION.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen AB Dambazau presenting his welcome address at the occasion

"The Nigerian Army has in recent times noted with dismay some of the unnecessary, unwarranted and inflammatory comments, statements and utterances in some quarters capable of creating a sense of insecurity and dragging us back to the dark days of our nation’s history. We are equally aware of the attempt by some people to drag the Army which has remained neutral but absolutely committed to the survival of our nascent democracy into the political affairs of this Country.   We also noted that some persons who apparently do not value peace are hell-bent on creating disaffection between the military and the public, particularly with reference to the Jos crisis.  Of course, we can safely assume that such persons find it impossible to commit other atrocities whenever we deploy to keep the peace, hence their frustration. Lest we forget the military was swift and decisive in containing the Boko Haram debacle and will therefore not hesitate to equally deal decisively with any form of mayhem whenever the need arises.   However, it is imperative that trouble makers in our midst, who are a negligible few, are not allowed to promote anarchy and their personal interest at the expense of our collective national interest and public order.  This is most important especially because our experiences in peacekeeping operation have shown that at the end of it all, it is the poor, the elderly, women and children that are the victims of such crises. 

The military has made a lot of sacrifices for peace and stability in our dear nation, and will continue to maintain its neutral status, despite efforts to discourage that through campaigns of calumny recently experienced.  We have seen the extent to which ethnic and religious crises ravaged many countries the world over, and we participated in post-conflict stabilization in many of such countries, we do not pray that we reverse the position in which other countries are sent to Nigeria for peace support operations. We want to state categorically that, in the Nigerian Army our Religion is Espirit de Corp while our Tribe is the Military Profession and our training has placed us above primordial sentiments.  The barracks is not a political battlefield, and our soldiers are not tools to be used for creating disunity.   The Nigerian Army affirms its commitment to its constitutional responsibilities and will continue to contribute meaningfully to the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria. We have said repeatedly that, the subsisting democratic environment in the Country, today gives us a lot of advantage in the pursuance of professionalism. The Nigerian Army urges all stakeholders in our national affairs to eschew violence and promote peace and tranquility in Nigeria. This advice is borne out of our experiences of the consequences visited on countries that have gone through crisis lately". 

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen AB Dambazau presenting his welcome address at the occasion

1.             I am most delighted to welcome you all to the Commissioning Ceremony of the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base (FOB) Abuja. Let me start by thanking Almighty God for his mercies and grace upon us to see yet another year and to be part of this august occasion. This event is another mile stone in the history of the Nigerian Army’s participation in Peace Support Operations (PSOs). 

The CDS, unveiling the Plaque to commissioning the Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base while the Chairman Senate Committee on Defence watch with keen interest

Cross section of dignitaries in a group photograph at the commisioning ceremony

2.             The establishment of FOB is part of our efforts to enhance Nigerian Army’s participation in PSOs. In the last one year, a lot has been done to improve the state of our Contingent Owned Equipment by injecting new B-vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers and assorted self-sustainment equipment, including spare parts, into the mission areas.  By the same token, the Nigerian Army has recently acquired large stock of logistics items ranging from uniform, boots, fragmental jackets, messing kits and tentages among others that would sufficiently cater for troops embarking on PSOs for sometime. Troops earmarked for PSOs now go through a well packaged 10-week Pre-deployment Training in their various units and at the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji.